Cushion

ABSTRACT

A cushion body of a rubber-like elastic element having cushioning function in which engagement holes including a cave and a pit are formed. The cave is formed so that a horizontal head of a T-shaped clip is inserted into a space provided at the side of a bottom surface portion. The pit is formed so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the cave, and to be opened in the bottom surface portion, permitting a vertical shaft of the clip to be inserted thereinto. The clip is formed with a plastic material and T-shaped and has a plurality of engaging claws flared toward the root portion from an end part of the vertical shaft of the T-shaped portion. The clip is engaged with the engagement holes of the cushion body.

The present application is based on Japanese Patent Applications Nos.2001-347165 and 2001-357004, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a cushion provided on a door or alid, and enabled to alleviate an impact force (or load) inputted to adoor or a lid when such a door or a lid is closed. More particularly,this invention relates to an assembly type cushion consisting of twomembers, of which a cushion body is formed from a rubber member andwhich a clip portion constituting an engagement portion is formed from aplastic material having a predetermined stiffness so that the cushionexcels in the mountability (or assemblability), and that the members ofthe cushion are prevented from dropping off therefrom after onceassembled.

2. Related Art

As illustrated in, for example, FIG. 14, such a conventional cushionconsists of a cushion body 110, which is shaped like a frustum and hasan impact absorption function, and an engagement portion 120, which isprovided on a bottom surface portion 210 of this frustum-like cushionbody and has an insertion portion 130 that is shaped like a ring andcomprises a tapered surface. Further, such portions are integrallyformed from materials, such as a rubber material.

Meanwhile, when the cushion of such a configuration is mounted on apredetermined mounting member 190 (see FIG. 14), the smoothabilitybetween the insertion portion 130 and the mounting member 190 is notgood because the insertion portion 130 is constituted by a rubbermember. To cope with this, a lubricant is applied thereto. However, theconventional cushion has a problem that the mountability (orassemblability) thereof is insufficient. To solve this mountabilityproblem, the diameter of a mounting hole provided at the side of themounting member 190 is sometimes increased. However, in the case ofprioritizing the mountability, there is caused a problem that when aload (or force) is applied on the cushion body 110 in a directionperpendicular to the axis thereof after the cushion is mounted (orassembled) thereonto, the cushion itself is prized up and drops offtherefrom.

As for another example, a cushion described in JP-A-1-063838U is citedas a conventional cushion consisting of two members. This cushionconsists of a cushion body made of a rubber material, and a clip portionformed from a plastic material. The connection between the cushion bodyand the clip portion is established by preliminarily fitting the clipportion, which is formed into a predetermined shape, into a mold, andinjecting a predetermined rubber material into such a mold to therebyform the cushion body, and simultaneously performing integration betweenthe clip portion and the cushion body.

Meanwhile, in the case of the conventional cushion, the clip portionformed from the plastic material, and the cushion body formed from therubber material are not chemically connected to each other. Further, inorder to perform insert molding for the clip portion, it is necessary toset it onto the mold, keeping a desired positional accuracy. Such theoperation requires precise works of setting the clip as well as acomplicated mold configuration. Therefore, cost reduction cannot beobtained. Moreover, in terms of forming materials, it is necessary touse expensive heat-resistant resins which are not undergone heatdeformations at the time of vulcanization of the rubber material. Thusit is also disadvantageous in cost that inexpensive general-purposeresins are not applicable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the aforementioned problems, an object of the invention is toprovide a cushion that excels in mountability and that is prevented fromeasily dropping off after once mounted. More specifically, in theinvention, there is provided a cushion that consists of two members, ofwhich a cushion body and a clip portion are firmly connected to eachother, and that is enabled to establish such connection therebetween byperforming a relatively easy operation. Further there is provided acushion that excels in mountability and that is prevented from easilydropping off after once mounted by providing an internal-space groove inthe insertion portion of the engagement portion.

(1) The invention provides the following means (hereunder referred to asa first cushion of the invention), which has a cushion body serving asstopper and also has a clip that is attached to the cushion body andadapted to contribute to the mounting of the cushion to a mountingmember. In the first cushion, the clip comprises a horizontal head and avertical shaft provided so as to extend in a direction perpendicular tothe horizontal head. The vertical shaft is adapted to have an engagementportion to be engaged with the mounting member. On the other hand, thecushion body is formed so as to perform a cushioning function, and as tohave a cave, which accommodates the horizontal head of the clip, and apit that accommodates the vertical shaft of the clip. The cushion bodyfurther has a through hole formed so as to extend in a horizontaldirection from an end of the cave. An elastic deformation portion isformed around the cave, the pit and the through hole. With such aconfiguration, according to the first cushion of the invention, theintegration of the clip and the cushion body is achieved by performing asimple assembling operation. Further, in the case of the first cushionformed in this manner, the mounting thereof to the mounting member, suchas a door panel, is easily performed. Moreover, after the cushion isonce mounted therein, the engagement portion engages the mountingmember, so that the cushion does not easily disengage therefrom.

(2) An embodiment (hereunder referred to as a second cushion of theinvention) of the first cushion of the invention is describedhereinbelow. The second cushion of the invention is similar in basicconfiguration to the first cushion of the invention. That is, the secondcushion of the invention is configured so that the second cushion hasconstituent elements of the first cushion of the invention and thatduring a state in which an end part of the horizontal head of the clipis inserted into the pit, and in which the inserted end part of thehorizontal head of the clip is led to the through hole formed in such amanner as to be opened in a side face part of the cushion body, theentire horizontal head of the clip is inserted into the cave and thevertical shaft is inserted into the pit by simultaneously andelastically deforming the elastic deformation portion of the cushionbody thereby to perform the integration of the cushion body and theclip.

With such a configuration, according to the second cushion of theinvention, the attachment of the clip to the cushion body is conductedby performing a simple snap operation. In the second cushion assembledin this manner, the clip and the cushion body are rigidly connected toeach other. Further, in the case of the second cushion formed in thismanner, the mounting thereof to the mounting member is easily performed,similarly as in the case of the first cushion of the invention.Moreover, after the cushion is once mounted therein, the engagementportion engages the mounting member, so that the cushion does not easilydisengage therefrom.

(3) An embodiment (hereunder referred to as a third cushion of theinvention) of the third cushion of the invention is describedhereinbelow. The third cushion of the invention is similar in basicconfiguration to the first or second cushion of the invention. That is,the third cushion of the invention is configured so that the thirdcushion has constituent elements of the first or second cushion of theinvention and that the horizontal head of the clip is shaped like alampshade. With such a configuration, according to the third cushion ofthe invention, the attachment of the clip to the cushion body isachieved by performing a simple operation, similarly as in the case ofthe first or second cushion of the invention. Further, in the case ofthe third cushion integrated in this manner, the horizontal head of theclip, which portion composes the connection portion between the cushionbody and the clip, is constituted by a lampshade-like element of a largearea. Thus, both the clip and the cushion body are more rigidlyconnected to each other. Consequently, during the use of the thirdcushion of the invention, both the clip and the cushion body do notdisengage from each other.

(4) An embodiment (hereunder referred to as a fourth cushion of theinvention) of the first or second cushion of the invention is describedhereinbelow. The fourth cushion of the invention is similar in basicconfiguration to the first or second cushion of the invention. That is,the fourth cushion of the invention is configured so that the fourthcushion has constituent elements of the first or second cushion of theinvention and that the clip is T-shaped. With such a configuration,according to the fourth cushion of the invention, the attachment of theclip to the cushion body is achieved by performing a simple operation,similarly as in the case of the first or second cushion of theinvention. Especially, the fourth cushion of the invention is configuredso as to be T-shaped. Thus, the insertion of the horizontal head of theclip into the pit and cave provided in the cushion body is relativelyeasily performed. Consequently, the attachment of the clip to thecushion body is efficiently performed.

(5) An embodiment (hereunder referred to as a fifth cushion of theinvention) of one of the first to fourth cushions of the invention isdescribed hereinbelow. The fifth cushion of the invention is similar inbasic configuration to the one of the first to fourth cushions of theinvention. That is, the fifth cushion of the invention is configured sothat a flange portion is provided at a lower part of the horizontal headof the clip and on the vertical shaft so as to project therefrom in adirection perpendicular to a direction of an axis of the cushion. Withsuch a configuration, according to the fifth cushion of the invention,the integration of the cushion body and the clip, that is, the assemblythereof is smoothly performed, similarly as in the case of the one ofthe first to fourth cushions of the invention. Further, in addition, thefifth cushion of the invention is adapted so that the horizontal headand the flange portion, which are provided on the clip, hold a partprovided around the elastic deformation portion so as to sandwich thispart. Thus, the integration (or connection) between the clip and thecushion body is firmly held. Consequently, during the use of the fifthcushion of the invention, the cushion and the clip do not disengage fromeach other.

(6) According to the invention, the invention provides the followingmeans (hereunder referred to as a sixth cushion of the invention), whichhas a cushion body serving as stopper and also has an engagement portionprovided in such a way as to be continued to the cushion body and as tocontribute to the mounting thereof onto amounting member. The sixthcushion comprises a connecting portion, formed in such a way as to beeasily deformable, for connecting between the engagement portion and thecushion body. With such a configuration, according to the sixth cushionof the invention, when the engagement portion is mounted in the mountinghole of the mounting member, in the case that a load acting in adirection perpendicular to the axis of the cushion, the connectingportion deforms, so that a side face part of the cushion body comes incontact around a mounting face of the mounting member.

Therefore, no more load (or force) is applied to the engagement portion.Consequently, the engagement portion is held in a state in which theengagement portion engages around the mounting hold of the mountingmember. Thus, the engagement portion does not drop off the mountingmember.

(7) An embodiment (hereunder referred to as a seventh cushion of theinvention) of the seventh cushion of the invention is describedhereinbelow. The seventh cushion of the invention is similar in basicconfiguration to the sixth cushion of the invention. That is, theseventh cushion of the invention is configured in such a way as to haveconstituent elements of the seventh cushion of the invention and as toimpart a predetermined elastic resiliency to the plate-like connectingportion. With such a configuration, according to the seventh cushion ofthe invention, the entire engagement portion is reduced in diameter bythe action of the internal-space groove, similarly as the engagementportion of the sixth cushion of the invention. Consequently, themounting of the cushion in the mounting hole provided in the mountingmember is simply performed. Further, after the cushion is once mountedtherein, the connecting portion deforms, so that a part of the cushionbody comes in contact with the mounting member, and that no more loadfor causing the engagement portion to drop off the mounting hole isapplied to the engagement portion. Furthermore, during such a state,after the load acting in the direction perpendicular to the axis of thecushion body is eliminated, the cushion body is put back by the actionof the resiliency to an original state, so that the cushion bodyperforms a normal cushioning operation.

(8) Another embodiment (hereunder referred to as an eighth cushion ofthe invention) of the sixth cushion of the invention is describedhereinbelow. This eighth embodiment is similar in basic configuration tothe sixth cushion of the invention. That is, the eighth cushion of theinvention is configured so that the eighth cushion has constituentelements of the sixth cushion of the invention and that aninternal-space groove is provided in the engagement portion in such away as to extend from a surface of the engagement portion, which facesthe cushion body, in a direction parallel to a direction of an axis ofthe engagement portion. With such a configuration, according to theeighth cushion of the invention, the entire engagement portion isreduced in diameter by the action of the internal-space groove,similarly as the engagement portion of the sixth cushion of theinvention. Consequently, an operation of mounting the cushion in themounting hole provided in the mounting member can smoothly be performed.Further, after the cushion is once mounted therein, the engagementportion is put back to the initial state in which the engagement portionhas a spread shape. Thus, the eighth cushion of the invention does noteasily drop off from the mounting hole.

(9) An embodiment (hereunder referred to as a ninth cushion of theinvention) of the eighth cushion of the invention is describedhereinbelow. This ninth embodiment is similar in basic configuration tothe eighth cushion of the invention. That is, the ninth cushion of theinvention is configured so that the ninth cushion comprises constituentelements of the eighth cushion of the invention and further comprise athin film portion formed in such a manner as to intersect a transversalsection of the engagement portion and as to be perpendicular to theconnecting portion. With such a configuration, according to the ninthcushion of the invention, when a load acting in the directionperpendicular to the axis of the engagement portion is applied to thecushion body, the thin film portion exerts the resiliency that acts inresponse to an occurrence of a deformation phenomenon in the connectingportion in such a way as to put back the connecting portion to anoriginal state, so that the cushion body, in which what is called afalling phenomenon occurs, can be returned to an original state.

(10) An embodiment (hereunder referred to as a tenth cushion of theinvention) of one of the sixth to ninth cushions of the invention isdescribed hereinbelow. This tenth embodiment is similar in basicconfiguration to the one of the sixth to ninth cushions of theinvention. That is, the tenth cushion of the invention is configured insuch a way as to further comprise a fitting portion formed at a part ofthe engagement portion, which part faces the cushion body, in such amanner as to project toward the cushion body and as to be inserted intoa mounting hole provided in the mounting member, and an engaging faceportion provided on an outer circumferential part of the fitting portionand formed in such a way as to engage an outer circumferential portionof the mounting hole. With such a configuration, according to the tenthcushion of the invention, the entire engagement portion is reduced indiameter by the action of the internal-space groove, similarly as theengagement portion of one of the sixth to ninth cushions of theinvention. Consequently, an operation of mounting the cushion in themounting hole provided in the mounting member can smoothly be performed.Further, after the cushion is once mounted therein, the engaging faceportion, which is formed in such a way as to have a predeterminedcontact area, keeps engaging around the mounting hole in response to,for instance, a load inputted in the direction perpendicular to the axisthereof. Thus, the engagement state of the engagement portion isreliably held. Consequently, the tenth cushion of the invention does noteasily drop off from the mounting hole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partly sectional view illustrating a state in which ahorizontal head of a T-shaped clip engages a cushion body according tothe invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an engagement statebetween the cushion body and the clip;

FIG. 3 is a transversally sectional view illustrating the configurationof a cave and a through cave of the cushion body according to theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a partly sectional view illustrating the configuration ofengagement holes of the cushion body according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a partly sectional view illustrating the configuration of theentire clip according to the clip and the structure of the T-shapedhorizontal head thereof;

FIG. 6 is a half-sectional and outside view illustrating theconfiguration of the entire clip;

FIGS. 7A to 7C are explanatory views illustrating a procedure forattaching the clip to the cushion body according to the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view illustrating a state in which the cushionaccording to the invention is mounted on a mounting member.

FIG. 9 is a half-sectional and outside view illustrating theconfiguration of the entire cushion according to the invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 9, whichillustrates the configuration of the entire engagement portion that is aprimary part of the cushion according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a half-sectional and outside view illustrating theconfiguration of the entire cushion according to the invention, andtaken from a direction perpendicular to a direction in which FIG. 9 istaken;

FIG. 12 is a partly sectional view illustrating a state in which a loadacting in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cushion accordingto the invention is inputted thereto;

FIG. 13 is a partly sectional view illustrating a state in which a loadacting in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the cushion accordingto the invention is inputted thereto in the case that the load isapplied thereto in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which theload is applied thereto, as shown in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a longitudinally sectional view illustrating theconfiguration of the entire conventional cushion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the invention is described withreference to FIGS. 1 to 8. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this firstembodiment is configured so as to basically comprise a cushion body 1,which is shaped like a frustum and made of a rubber material or anelastomer material, and also comprise a clip 2 that is provided in sucha manner as to be erected from a bottom surface portion 11 of thefrustum constituting the cushion body 1 and as to be used for mountingthe cushion in a mounting hole 91 provided in a mounting member 9, andthat is entirely formed from a predetermined plastic material.

Incidentally, the shape of the cushion body 1 is not limited to thefrustum shown in FIG. 1 or 2, and may be other ones, such as a columnand a distorted quadrangular pyramid shown in FIG. 8, as long as thecushion body of such a shape has an impact absorption function or acushioning function. Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the engagementholes 15, into each of which a corresponding part of the T-shaped clip 2is inserted, is provided at a place close to the bottom surface part 11of the cushion body having such a cushioning function. Practically, asillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, this engagement hole 15 basically includesa cave 151, into which the horizontal head 21 of the T-shaped clip 2 isinserted, and also includes a pit 152 provided so that the pit 152 isperpendicular to the cave 151 and that the root part 221 of the verticalshaft 22 of the clip 2 is inserted into the pit 152. Further, asillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, a through cave 155 formed so as to beopened in the side face part of the cushion body 1 is provided in such amanner as to extend from one end portion of the cave 151 included in theengagement holes 15. Furthermore, a recess portion 154 formed isprovided at the other end portion of the cave 151, which is opposite tothe side of the through cave 155, so that when the horizontal head 21 ofthe T-shaped clip 2 is mounted therein, a projection portion 211 formedon an end part of the horizontal head 21 is inserted into the recessportion 154 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, at an opening portion of the pit152 of such engagement holes 15, which portion is opened in the bottomsurface portion 11, a counterbored portion 153, whose horizontal sectionis shaped like a predetermined circle, is provided, as shown in FIGS. 2and 4. In this portion 153, a flange portion 23 (to be described later)provided in the T-shaped clip 2 is accommodated. Further, an elasticholding portion 16, which is operative to hold the vertical shaft 22,and an elastic deformation portion 17, which largely and elasticallydeforms when the clip 2 is attached to the cushion body, are providedaround the pit 152.

Next, the clip 2 mounted (or connected) in the engagement hole 15 of thecushion body 1 of such a configuration is described hereinbelow.Basically, this clip 2 is T-shaped and formed form a predeterminedplastic material, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. That is, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, fundamentally, this clip 2 consists of a horizontal head21 and a vertical shaft 22, which constitute a T-shaped element. In theclip 2 of such a basic configuration, projection portions 211 areprovided at both end parts of the horizontal head 21, respectively, soas to downwardly project therefrom. When this clip 2 is engaged in theengagement holes 15 of the cushion body 1, this projection portion 211is inserted into the recess portion 154 provided in the cave 151, whichis included in the engagement holes 15, to thereby reliably achieve thepositioning of the clip 2 in the cushion body 1. Incidentally, the shapeof the clip 2 of such a configuration is not limited to a T-like shape.In addition, a lampshade-like shape formed by projecting out thehorizontal head 21 like a disk may be employed as the shape of the clip2.

Further, the vertical shaft 22 is provided at the central part of thehorizontal head 21 in such a way as to extend therefrom in a directionperpendicular to the horizontal head 21. Moreover, the root portion 221thereof is adapted to be inserted into the pit 152 included in theengagement holes 15. Furthermore, a lampshade-like flange portion 23 isprovided just under this root portion 221. The elastic holding portion16 and the elastic deformation portion 17 provided around the pit 152 ofthe cushion body 1 are sandwiched by this flange portion 23 and thehorizontal head 21. Furthermore, at a lower portion of the flangeportion 23 of such a configuration, a plurality of engaging claws 25formed in such a way as to flare from a lower part of the vertical shafttoward the con-shaped-hat-like flange portion 23 are provided, asillustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6. These engaging claws 25 are normallyopened, as shown in FIG. 6. When the engaging claws 25 are attached tothe mounting member 9, the claws 25 can be shut (or closed) against theelastic force (or spring reaction force) thereof. Incidentally, althoughthese engaging claws 25 are provided in this embodiment so that pairedones 25 are opposed to each other, the manner of arrangement of theclaws 25 is not limited thereto. Any other arrangement thereof may beemployed, as long as the claws 25 are radially arranged around thevertical shaft 22 or engage the mounting member 9.

Next, a procedure for performing the connection (or integration) betweenthe plastic clip 2 of such a configuration and the cushion body 1 madeof a rubber material is described with reference to FIGS. 7A to 7C.First, as shown in FIG. 7A, one of the end parts of the horizontal head21 of the T-shaped part of the clip 2 is inserted into the pit 152 ofthe cushion body 1. Subsequently, during such a state, the alreadyinserted one of the end parts of the horizontal head 21 is pushed towardthe through cave 155 provided in the cave 151 of the cushion body 1 bysimultaneously snapping the entire clip 2, as illustrated in FIG. 7B.Then, the horizontal head 21 or the root portion 221 of the clip 2causes a part provided around the engagement holes 15 of the cushionbody 1, that is, the elastic deformation portion 17 to elasticallydeform. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7B, the whole engagement holes 15 are putinto a largely opened state. During such a state, the entire horizontalhead 21 of the clip 2 is inserted into the cave 151. Therefore, it ispreferable that the elastic deformation portion 17 is formed in such amanner as to be thin-walled and as to be easily deformable.

In such an operation of fitting the horizontal head 21 into the cave151, the elastic deformation of the elastic deformation portion 17formed around the engagement hole 15 is relatively easily performedbecause of the fact that the through cave 155 is provided in such amanner as to be continued to the cave 151 in the side face part of thecushion body 1. Thus, an operation of mounting the horizontal head 21and the root portion 221 of the clip 2 in the engagement hole 15 of thecushion body 1 is smoothly performed. Then, after the portions 21 and221 are once mounted therein, a part provided around the engagement hole15 is put back to an original state by an elastic force of the material.Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 7C, the horizontal head 21 and the flangeportion 23 of the clip 2 engage around the bottom surface part 11 of thecushion body 1. The connection between both the clip 2 and the cushionbody 1 is reliably established. Moreover, the projection portion 211provided at the end part of the horizontal head 21 of the clip 2 isinserted into the recess portion 154 provided in the cave 151 of thecushion body 1. Thus, the positioning of the horizontal head 21 of theclip 2 is reliably performed. Therefore, during a state in which such acushion is mounted in the mounting member 9 (see FIG. 8), both thecushion body 1 and the clip 2 do not disengage from each other.

Next, an operation of this embodiment of such a configuration isdescribed hereinbelow with reference to FIG. 8. That is, in thisembodiment, the clip 2 contributing to the mounting of the cushion inthe mounting member 9 is formed from a plastic material having apredetermined stiffness. Moreover, the engaging claws 25 contributing tothe engagement thereof in the mounting hole 91 provided in the mountingmember 9 are adapted to have a predetermined repulsive force (that is, apredetermined spring reaction force). Thus, the cushion can easily bemounted (or assembled) in the mounting hole during a state in whichthese engaging claws 25 are closed and shut. Further, after the cushionis once mounted therein, the engaging claws 25 returns to an originalstate by an inherent elastic force (or spring reaction force) thereof,so that the claws 25 have a spread shape. Then, the claws 25 having beenin such a spread condition engage in the mounting hole 91 of themounting member 9, so that this cushion does not easily disengage fromthe mounting member 9. Further, during the use of the cushion aftermounted therein, the through cave 155 is hidden from the outside bysetting the position of the through cave 155 formed in the cushion body1 of this cushion of the aforementioned configuration, for example, at aplace on the wall surface of the mounting member 9, as illustrated inFIG. 8. Thus, the appearance of the cushion is not impaired.Furthermore, it is desirable that the through cave 155 is short.Therefore, it is possible that the position of the engagement hole 15provided in the cushion body 1 is set in such a way as to be eccentricwith respect to the axis center line of the cushion body 1.

According to the invention, a cushion is configured so that the clipcomprises a horizontal head and a vertical shaft provided in such a wayas to extend in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal head, thatthe clip is adapted to have a plurality of engaging claws formed at anend part of the vertical shaft in such a way as to flare toward thehorizontal head therefrom, that on the other hand, the cushion body isformed in such a way as to perform a cushioning function, and as to havea cave, with which the horizontal head of the clip engages, and a pit,which accommodates the vertical shaft of the clip, that the cushion bodyfurther has a through hole formed in such a way as to extend in ahorizontal direction from an end of the cave, and that an elasticdeformation portion is formed around the cave, the pit and the throughhole. With such a configuration, according to this cushion of theinvention, the integration of the clip and the cushion body is achievedby performing a simple assembling operation. Further, the cushion formedin this manner can be easily mounted on the mounting member by shuttingthe engaging claws. Moreover, after the cushion is once mounted therein,the engaging claws engage the mounting member, so that the cushion doesnot easily disengage therefrom.

Further, according to the invention, when the clip is mounted in theengagement hole of the cushion body, the following procedure isperformed. That is, an end part of the horizontal head of the clip isinserted into the pit, and the inserted end part of the horizontal headof the clip is led to the through hole formed in such a manner as to beopened in a side face part of the cushion body. During such a state, theentire horizontal head of the clip is inserted into the cave, and theroot part of the vertical shaft is inserted into the pit bysimultaneously and elastically deforming the elastic deformation portionof the cushion body thereby to perform integration of the cushion bodyand the clip. Thus, the attachment of the clip to the cushion body isconducted by performing a simple snap operation. Moreover, the clip andthe cushion body are rigidly connected to each other. Furthermore, inthe case of the cushion formed in this manner, the mounting thereof tothe mounting member is easily performed. Further, after the cushion isonce mounted therein, the engaging claws engage the mounting member, sothat the cushion does not easily disengage therefrom.

Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the invention is described withreference to FIGS. 9 to 13. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, this secondembodiment is configured in such a way as to basically comprise acushion body 101 serving as stopper, and also has an engagement portion102 provided in such a way as to be continued to the cushion body 101and as to contribute to the mounting thereof onto a mounting member 109.Furthermore, this second embodiment further comprises a connectingportion 103 that is operative to connect between the engagement portion102 and the cushion body 101 and that is formed in such a way as toeasily bend and elongate. Further, these portions are integrally formedfrom rubber-like elastic elements.

In the cushion of such a basic configuration, the cushion body 101 isoften shaped like a frustum. However, it is sometimes possible that thecushion body 101 is shaped like a column or a distorted quadrangularpyramid. Further, in the cushion body 101 of such a shape, acircumferential groove 115 is provided in the vicinity of the bottomsurface portion 111 thereof, as illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11. Thus, anannular flange portion 112 is formed in the vicinity of the bottomsurface portion 111. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, a ring-likeprojection portion 321 is provided over the circumference of the bottomsurface portion 111. The flange portion 112 is made by the action ofthis ring-like projection portion 321 and the circumferential groove tobe easy to bend in the direction of an axis of the cushion body 101.Moreover, the flange portion 112 exerts a spring reaction force in sucha direction.

Next, the engagement portion 102 provided in such a way as to be erectedon the bottom surface part 111 of the cushion body 101 of such aconfiguration through the connecting portion 103 is describedhereinbelow. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 11, the engagement portion102 is basically shaped like a frustum or a cone. A lead-in portion 129constituted by a tapered surface formed in such a manner as to taper offtoward an end part thereof is provided therein. As shown in FIG. 9, inthis embodiment, a plurality of internal-space grooves 121 are providedin the engagement portion 102 of such a configuration in such a way asto extend in parallel to the direction of an axis of the portion 102.Incidentally, although this internal-space groove 121 is opened towardthe bottom surface portion 111 of the cushion body 101 in thelongitudinal direction (or the axial direction) thereof, a lower part ofthe groove 121 dead-ends at a midway point in the lead-in portion 129 atthe opposite side and thus is not dug to the leading-edge of the portion129. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the internal-space grooves 121are provided so that the transversal sections thereof are opposed toeach other in a transversal section of the engagement portion 102 insuch a manner as to be symmetrical with respect to the centerlinethereof. Furthermore, a thick wall portion to be provided between suchopposed internal-space grooves 121 among such grooves 121 is formed insuch a manner as to be thin-walled. Moreover, this thin film portion 122formed in such a manner as to be thin-walled is connected to a side facepart of the connecting portion 103 (to be described later) at rightangles thereto. As a result of providing such a thin film portion 122therein, an occurrence of what is called a falling phenomenon or aspreading phenomenon of longitudinal wall portions 124 formed along theside face parts of the thin film portions 121 is restrained by anelastic resistance force corresponding to elongation deformation of thethin film portion 122.

Further, a fitting portion 125 is provided on a side of this engagementportion 102 of such a configuration, which side faces the bottom surfacepart 111 of the cushion body 101, and formed (see FIG. 10) in such a wayas to protrude toward the bottom surface portion 111 and as to beinserted into a mounting hole 191 provided in the mounting member 109.Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an engaging face portion 126formed in such a way as to have a circular-arc shape and a predeterminedwidth is provided on a circumferential edge part of the fitting portion125. When this cushion is mounted in the mounting hole 191 of themounting member 109, a part of the mounting member 109, which is placedaround the mounting hole 191, is held in such a manner as to be fastenedwith such an engaging face portion 126, engaging, face portions 126′,which are formed at both end portions in the longitudinal direction ofthe connecting portion 103, and the ring-like projection portion 321provided at the side of the bottom surface part 111 of the cushion body101.

The connecting portion 103 for connecting between the cushion body 101and the engagement portion 102, which are configured in such manners, isshaped like a plate. The transversal section of the connecting portion103 is shaped like a rectangle, as illustrated in FIG. 10. Further, sucha connecting portion 103 is connected to the central portion of thebottom part 111 of the cushion body 101 at one end thereof in such a wayas to be erected thereon, and also connected to the central part of theengagement portion 102 at the other end thereof in such a manner as tobe erected thereon. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 10, theengagement portions 126′ formed on the same circumference as that, onwhich the circular-arc engaging face portion 126 is formed, is providedat both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the transversalsection of such a connecting portion 103. Further, the internal-spacegrooves 121 are provided in the side surface parts of this connectingportion 103 in such a manner as to extend along the portion 103 (seeFIG. 10). Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the thin film portion 122formed between the bottom portions of the opposed ones of suchinternal-space grooves 121 is provided in such a way as to beperpendicular to the side face portions in the longitudinal direction inthe transversal section of this connecting portion 103. That is, theconnecting portion 103 and the thin film portion 122 are formed in sucha way as to be orthogonal to each other.

Next, a procedure for mounting (or attaching) this second embodiment ofsuch a configuration onto the mounting member 109, and an operation tobe performed during the inputting of a load acting in a directionperpendicular to the axis of the cushion upon completion of mountingthereof are described hereinbelow. First, when this cushion is mountedthereon, the lead-in part 129 of the engagement portion 102 is insertedinto the mounting hole 191. Moreover, the cushion body 101 of thiscushion is pushed against the mounting member 109. Then, the cushionbends at a part of each of the internal-space grooves 121, that is, atthe thin film portion 122, so that the entire engagement portion 102 isreduced in diameter. Thus, the lead-in part 129 is smoothly led into themounting hole 191. Further, an outer circumferential part of the flangeportion 112 is caused by the action of the circumferential groove 115,which is provided at an upper part of the flange portion 112, toupwardly bend against a pushing force exerted from an upper part of thecushion body 101. Consequently, the engagement portion 102 and theconnecting portion 103 are pushed into the mounting hole 191 moredeeply. As a result, the engagement portion 102 is relatively easilyinserted into the mounting hole 191. Thus, this cushion is easilymounted on the mounting member 109. Further, after the cushion is oncemounted (or attached) thereonto, the engaging face part 126 of theengagement portion 102 engages around the mounting hole 191 even when aload exerted in the direction perpendicular to the axis thereof or in anoblique direction acts upon the cushion body 101. This prevents thiscushion from disengaging from the mounting hole 191.

A practical example of such an operation is described hereinbelow withreference to FIGS. 12 and 13. First, an operation in the case, in whicha load (or force) F is inputted from a direction perpendicular to alongitudinal side face part in the transversal section of the plate-likeconnecting portion 103, as illustrated in FIG. 12, is describedhereunder. In this case, the connecting portion 103 is in a state inwhich this portion 103 easily bends. Thus, the connecting portion 103bend-deforms in the direction that is nearly perpendicular to the axisof the cushion. Thus, a part of the outer circumferential portion of theflange portion 112 comes in contact with a surface of the mountingmember 109. This prevents the connecting portion 103 from furtherbending. Therefore, the engaging face portions 126 and 126′ provided inthe engagement portion 102 maintain a state in which the engaging faceportions engage a mounting face provided around the mounting hole 191.Consequently, this engagement portion 102 does not disengage from themounting hole 191. Further, the connecting portion 103 is bent by theaction of the load F acting in the direction perpendicular to the axisthereof. Thus, a force acting in such a way as to increase the distancebetween the longitudinal wall portion 124 and the connecting portion 103is exerted on this longitudinal wall portion 124 placed around each ofthe internal-space grooves 121 provided in the engagement portion 102.However, because of the fact that the thin film portion 122 is providedtherebetween, the thin film portion 122 resists against the force actingin such a manner. Consequently, a part placed around the lead-in portion129, which is a longitudinal bottom portion of each of theinternal-space grooves 121, is not inverted (see FIG. 12). Therefore,the longitudinal wall portion 124 provided around each of theinternal-space grooves 121 is not drawn into the mounting hole 191 bythe load acting in the direction perpendicular to the axis of thecushion. As a result, the engaging face portions 126 reliably engage aface provided around the mounting hole 191.

Further, when the load (F) applied in the direction perpendicular to theaxis of the cushion acts along the longitudinal direction of theconnecting portion 103, as illustrated in FIG. 13, the connectingportion 103 deforms so that one of the longitudinal end parts in atransversal section of the connecting portion 103 elongates. Thus, anouter circumferential part of the flange portion 112 formed in a lowerpart of the cushion body 101 is in contact with a part of the mountingmember 109, which part is provided around the mounting hole 191, so thatno more deformation is caused in the connecting portion 103.Incidentally, at that time, between the engaging face portions 126′formed at both the longitudinal end portions in the transversal sectionof the connecting portion 103, the elongated portion 126′ disengagesfrom the mounting face provided around the mounting hole 191. However,the circular-arc engaging face portions 126 (see FIG. 10) formed at boththe longitudinal side face parts of this connecting portion 103 maintaina state in which these portions 126 engage the end face of the mountinghole 191 (see FIG. 13). Thus, in response to the inputting of the load(or force) F acting in a direction perpendicular to the axis of thecushion body 101, the engagement portion 102 of this cushion reliablyengages around the mounting hole 191.

According to the second embodiment of the invention, there is provided acushion that has a cushion body serving as stopper and also has anengagement portion provided in such a way as to be continued to thecushion body and as to contribute to the mounting thereof onto amounting member. This cushion is provided with a connecting portion,which is formed entirely from a rubber-like elastic element in such away as to be easily deformable, for connecting between the engagementportion and the cushion body. Furthermore, in this embodiment, theengagement portion is shaped like a frustum. Moreover, in the cushion ofthe invention, a plurality of internal-space grooves are provided insuch a way as to be arranged in a direction of an axis of the engagementportion. With such a configuration, when the cushion of this inventionis mounted onto the mounting member, the engagement portion is reducedin diameter by the action of the internal-space groove. Thus, anoperation of mounting the cushion in the mounting hole provided in themounting member can smoothly be performed. Further, after the cushion isonce mounted therein, the connecting portion deforms in response to aload inputted in the direction perpendicular to the axis thereof, sothat a side face part of the cushion body comes in contact around themounting face of the mounting member. Thus, no more load (or force) isapplied to the engagement portion. Consequently, the engagement portionis held in a state in which the engagement portion is engaged around themounting hole of the mounting member. As a result, the cushion of theinvention does not drop off from the mounting member.

Further, in the cushion of the invention, the connecting portion isshaped like a plate. Moreover, another embodiment of the invention isprovided with a thin film portion formed in such a manner as tointersect a transversal section of the engagement portion and as to beperpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the connecting portion.In the case of such the embodiment, the entire engagement portion can bereduced in diameter by elastically deforming the thin film portion.Consequently, the mounting of the cushion on the mounting member iseasily performed. After the cushion is once mounted thereon, the thinfilm is caused by the extension resistance thereof to act in such amanner as to restrain the longitudinal wall portion formed around theinternal-space groove from falling down. Thus, the entire engagementportion maintains a state in which the engagement portion engages aroundthe mounting hole. Consequently, the engagement portion does not easilydrop off in response to the load inputted in the direction perpendicularto the axis of the cushion.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. A cushion comprising: a cushion body serving asstopper; an engagement portion formed continuously with said cushionbody and adapted to be attached to a mounting member so that the cushionis mounted on the mounting member; a connecting portion connecting saidengagement portion and said cushion body, said connecting portion beingeasily deformable.
 7. A cushion according to claim 6, wherein saidconnecting portion is shaped like a plate, and wherein a predeterminedelastic resiliency is imparted to said plate-like connecting portion. 8.A cushion according to claim 6, wherein an internal-space groove isprovided in said engagement portion extending from a surface of saidengagement portion, which faces said cushion body, in a directionparallel to an axis of said engagement portion.
 9. A cushion accordingto claim 8, further comprising a thin film portion formed so as tointersect a transversal section of said engagement portion and as to beperpendicular to said connecting portion.
 10. A cushion comprising: acushion body serving as stopper; and a clip fitted to said cushion bodyand adapted to be attached to a mounting member so that the cushion ismounted on the mounting member, said clip including a horizontal headand a vertical shaft extending in a direction perpendicular to saidhorizontal head, said vertical shaft having an engagement portion to beengaged with said mounting member; wherein cushion body is formed so asto perform a cushioning function, wherein a cave for accommodating saidhorizontal head of said clip, a pit for accommodating said verticalshaft of said clip and a through hole extending in a horizontaldirection from an end of said cave are formed in said cushion body,elastic deformation portions are formed around said cave, said pit andsaid through hole, a fitting portion formed on a part of said engagementportion, which is located on a side of said cushion body, so to projecttoward said cushion body and as to be inserted into a mounting holeprovided in said mounting member; and an engaging face portion providedon an outer circumferential part of said fitting portion and formed forengaging an outer circumferential portion of said mounting hole.